Nathan MacKinnon has been on a two-week scoring binge, and the Colorado Avalanche would like him to keep it going when they meet the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night in Denver.

MacKinnon is riding a 10-game point streak and leads the NHL in scoring with 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists). His offense is even more important with the news that second-line winger Valeri Nichushkin will be out with a lower-body injury sustained in Tuesday night's 4-1 win over Anaheim.

"It's definitely a concern that he's not here (Wednesday) and left the game early (Tuesday) night," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said of Nichushkin (five goals, seven assists). "He's going to miss some time; I just don't know how much."

The Avalanche have won four games in a row and six of their last seven to move atop the NHL wi

See Full Page